There are multiple ways for me to get from Cole Valley, where I live in San Francisco, to the One Wealth Advisors office in the Mission each morning. While not the most time efficient, I choose to take the N Muni train for a few stops just past Duboce Park and walk the remaining almost twenty minutes to get to work.
In this ever-evolving digital age, where AI is not just a buzzword but an intimate part of our daily lives, it’s increasingly important to talk about the ‘E’ word – Empathy. Sure, as we delegate more tasks to our tireless, silicon-based friends, the other E word, Efficiency, also spikes up. But amidst this surge of productivity, let’s not forget that empathy, that uniquely human trait, doesn’t come pre-installed in these machines. In a world where AI can draft emails, drive cars, and even write blog posts, the need to remain empathetically human becomes not just important, but essential.
Cognitive decline, a natural part of aging, can significantly impact an individual’s ability to make sound financial decisions. As we age, changes in cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, and executive function can subtly erode our financial acumen. This decline can range from simple forgetfulness to more severe forms of impairment like dementia. The effects are far-reaching, affecting everything from daily budget management to long-term financial planning. Alarmingly, the decline often goes unnoticed by the
individuals themselves, making them vulnerable to financial mistakes or exploitation.
Yesterday – which happened to be January 1st, I was in my living room, on my bike, which I was riding via an app called Zwift and a machine called a Wahoo Kickr, both of which allow me to simulate real road riding right in the comfort of my own living room. I was also watching my favorite soccer team Liverpool FC, beat up on archrival Newcastle in the English Premier League, 3,000 miles away in Liverpool, UK. In the throes of a 250-watt push on the Champs Elysee’ in Paris (the app video simulates cities all over the world), I began to think of how easy it is to be alone these days.
So much of what we do each day focuses on our clients. From investing to banking to estate and tax analysis and beyond, each interaction attempts to help our clients live happier and more peaceful lives. As I celebrate my 26th year in the industry (I started December 1997), I cannot help but reflect on how our clients have helped us help them.
I recently sat in on a presentation on Artificial Intelligence. What struck me was all the capabilities that AI offered. If you understand how to properly prompt it with questions, it can be very efficient. AI can automate repetitive or mundane tasks, reducing workload and human errors. For example, it can record a conversation and summarize what was said concisely and accurately in a nanosecond. I believe this new technology will save time and perhaps reduce the need to add headcount, in some cases at the expense of eliminating jobs. However, in reducing the need for hiring and training additional staff, AI is cost effective.
Last week, WeWork, a company known for the lofty goal of creating community in the office space, filed for bankruptcy. WeWork was my first job out of college, my introduction to San Francisco, and a teacher of what I value in the workplace.
For those of you that know me well, you know I have a tendency to take on projects that consistently challenge me – and the results have often been incredibly satisfying once the project is in place. One of the ways that I increase the chance that I will take action when I have inspiration is to share the idea with those in my sphere. By doing so, I become accountable to anyone I have shared the idea with. The accountability becomes highly motivating, as I am someone who is proud to be a person others see as doing what I say I am going to do.
Did I scare you? You want to know what’s been scaring me lately? Unprecedented weather. The ceiling of my room, which is the shape of a coffin. A death count over 9,000 and what the number will be when it’s all over. Recurring-Thoughts-of-Death Barbie. Angry, lonely men with guns. Being angry, but mostly, being lonely. The ubiquity of horrors. How inured we’ve all become to empathy. Now I’ve made you scared and depressed. Which is exactly where I wanted you because I’m about to lift your ghostly spirits by telling you why I love Halloween. And why you should too.
